STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

Attie Murray and Scarlett Carruth didn’t yodel when they plunged into the Cold Pond at the base of Dollar Mountain. But they did get goosebumps.

The two, dressed as if they had just stepped out of the “Sound of Music,” were among more than 200 youth and adults who dared the frigid Pond Skim waters built by Dollar Mountain’s terrain park crew and filled using hoses from the fire department in Sunday’s Dollar Mountain Pond Skim.

After being rewarded ski goggles for their big splash, they even posed for a picture in their drenched dirndls.

The judges were pretty generous with their scores with high numbers earning participants the best prizes.

This year’s pond, which featured a dollar sign at the bottom, was 10 feet longer than last year’s, said Beth Willis, who has helped oversee the Pond Skims the past 15 years as a member of Sun Valley’s yellow jacket guest services.

There appeared to be no fatigue from the week-long World Cup Finals that had just ended over at Bald Mountain—crowds were as big as ever, Willis said. And the list of participants was as long as ever, despite Sunday marking the end of Spring Break for Wood River Valley students.

“It’s an almost bluebird day, and everyone’s happy,” she said.

Every participant got a prize, ranging from goggles to sunglasses to ski hats and waist packs. And the costumes ranged from Uncle Sam to Ms. Frankenstein, the latter engineered by Nick Hall, who spent hours applying his—or her—makeup only to see it turn runny when Ms. Frankenstein bombed as she hit the pool.

This guy splashed spectators standing alongside the pond.

The Pond Skim marks the end of the season at Dollar Mountain. But for Sun Valley Resort, it marks the beginning of next season as the resort has begun to sell 2025-26 season passes.

The season passes are at their best discounted prices through April 30 at https://shop.sunvalley.com/s/season-passes.

The Challenger Platinum pass includes unlimited access to Sun Valley and its sister resort—Snowbasin in Utah, plus an Ikon Base Pass.

New this year: Passholders can upgrade their Challenger Platinum Pass to the full Ikon Pass to access more Ikon Pass destinations with no blackout dates.

A handful of Sun Valley ski patrollers tried pulling one another across in the rescue toboggan. But…glug, glug, glug.

Those who purchase the $2,224 Challenger or Challenger Platinum passes before April 30 will get two additional half-price Friends and Family tickets, as will as two lift tickets for summer 2025. Learn more about these benefits and others, including Mountain Collective discounts and discounts on lodging at the Grand America Hotels and Resorts properties stays, at https://www.sunvalley.com/tickets-passes/season-pass-benefits/.

Sun Valley Resort plans to implement RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) Bluetooth Low Energy lift ticket technology in 2025/26. That will allow skiers and riders to access both Bald and dollar mountains without taking their pass or ticket out of their pocket.

The technology also allows for future mobile app expansions.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to excellence, we are constantly seeking ways to enhance the guest experience,” said Pete Sonntag, COO of Sun Valley Resort. “The integration of RFID technology is the next step in our continued investment in the mountain.”

This participant ended up sideways after going after the big jump.

DONATE TO CONSERVATION

Pass buyers may add $5 to every pass purchase this year to benefit the Sun Valley Resort Conservation Fund. The fund benefits the forest health projects that the resort has been conducting in collaboration with the National Forest Foundation.